site assignments

so... on Saturday our entire training class traveled back to Belmopan to receive our site assignments. we'll be scattered all around the country, north to south, from villages of just over 100 residents to big bad Belize City. for those of you who have been on this journey with me since january, and have been wondering where i'll be living for the next two years, this is the moment we've been waiting for. my assignment? San Ignacio!

located on the western edge of Belize (just nine miles from the Guatemalan border) and smack in the middle of the country north to south, San Ignacio is a town of roughly 10,000. it lies on the west bank of the Macal River, where the annual Ruta Maya four-day canoe race begins. it's a jumping off point for a variety of outdoor adventures, as well as a couple of Mayan archaeological sites, so there tends to be a lot of tourist traffic. which means i'll likely be seeing more American faces than i'd anticipated, but also means there will be a nice variety of restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from. and i hear they've just opened a movie theater (only the second one in the country!). and word on the street has it that San Ignacio has the best outdoor market in the country. my language trainer, Miss Santos, tells me i'll have my pick of all the fresh fruit and vegetables i could want. the population of San Ignacio is largely Mestizo (a mix of Spanish and Maya descent), but you'll also find Kriol folk, as well as Mopan and Yucatec Mayans, Mennonites, Lebanese and Chinese. Spanish, English and Kriol are all spoken frequently.

as for the job... i'll be working in the district education office in Santa Elena, San Ignacio's sister town, located just across the river. i'll be responsible for assisting the district coordinator in implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Health and Family Life Education curriculum in a number of area schools. it's a brand new curriculum, which focuses on four main areas devoted to healthy living - self & interpersonal relationships, sexuality & sexual health, managing the environment, and eating & fitness. it's a lot to contemplate at the moment, and i'm still having difficulty envisioning what my job will actually entail, but i'm excited to have a bit more clarity about what i'll be doing for the next two years. and from what i observed during the three (!) hours i spent in San Ignacio several weeks ago, i think i'll enjoy living there. start booking your tickets, folks!